Vibrant bar for musical instruments



Dec. 29, 1931. H J SCHLUTER 1,838,502

VIBRANT BAR FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Oct. 50. 1930 I III II n IIIII III E Patented Dec. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE HENRY J.SCHLUTER, 01s CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO J. C. DEAGAN, INC 01'-CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS VIBRANT BAR FOR MUSICALINSTRUMENTS In'the manufacture of musical instruments of the percussiontype, such as Xylophones, metal orchestra bells, harp celeste,marimbaphones, and the like, where the vibrant bars 5 are struck with amallet or hammer, the. musical bars are usually laid or supported onframes balanced at their nodal points, or they are sometimes suspendedperpendicularly from a single node to render them very 0 sensitive as apercussion instrument. In

musical bars such as used on xylophones and similar percussioninstruments, the pitch of the tone of said bars dependsgenerally uponthe length and the thickness of the bar. 1t has been the practiceheretofore to reduce the bars in cross-section at their centers usuallyby hollowing out the underside or bottom of the bars when it has beendesired to lower the fundamental tone of the bars, and in cases where ithas been desired to raise the fundamental tone of the bars said barshave been thinned off at their ends.

This invention relates to percussion musical instrument bars which areconstructed with reduced portions between the center and the fundamentalnodal points thereby producing a musical or vibrant bar which willproduce two or more harmonic intervals, that is, distinct and differentmusical tones which are in harmony with each other, giving the effect ofa plurality of sounds or a triad.

It is an object of this invention to provide a percussion musicalinstrument bar reduced in thickness between the middle of the bar andthe fundamental nodal points by constructing the vibrant bar with one ormore I waving or undulating longitudinal surfaces leaving the middlesection of the bar at sub- 40 stantially its original thickness toprovide a Vibrant bar having an additional pair of nodal pointsintermediate the fundamental nodal points.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved percussiontype of musical bar with one or more wavy or undulating surfaces toprovide a plurality of sections of reduced thickness to form a barhaving additional nodal points whereby additional tones.

tones may be produced in harmonic relation to the fundamental tone ofthe bar.

It is a further object of this invention to. provide an improved type ofpercussion musical instrument bar having sections of reduced thicknesscreating intermediate nodal points making it possible to produce thequint and other selected intervals.

It is furthermore an object of this invention to provide a percussiontype musical instruinent bar having a wavy or undulating surface toproduce a bar of varying thickness of either tubular or solidconstruction to create overtone nodal points intermediate thefundamental nodal points to provide a bar adapted when played to producenot only the fundamental octave but twelfth or qulnit frequencies,producing the effect of a tria It is still further an object of thisinventionto provide a percussion type of musical instrument bar which isso constructed that it is provided with sections of reduced thicknessoutside of and between the fundamental nodal points whereby; second andthird partials are produced in addition to the fundamental or firstpartial.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a percussion typeof musical instrument provided with improved vibrant bars shaped toprovide a plurality of sections of reduced thickness between the nodalpoints of the bar and the middle section whereby not only a shorterrange of hammer movement is made possible but greatly facil- 35 itatingthe ease of operation, particularly in the playing of rapidmovements,'whereby extra tones in the forms of twelfths or quints areproduced in addition to the fundamental 0 9 Other and further importantobjects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in thespecification and the accompanying drawings. a

[The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings andhereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings: Figure 1 is an end elevation of a musical percussioninstrument equipped with improved vibrant bars embodying the principlesof this invention and illustrating the shorter range of hammer movementmade possible by the novel shaping and position ing of the bars.

Figure 2 is a side view of an improved vibrant bar illustrating theposition of the fundamental nodal points and the interme diate orovertone nodal points, and furthermore illustrating in broken lines thefundamental tone wave and the overtone or partial wave curve.

Figure 3 is an end View of the vibrant bar illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 4 illustrates a musical staff, showing in the first measure afundamental note and twelfths or quints; a second measure illustrating atriad comprising a fundamental note, an octave note and a quint ortwelfth; and a third measure illustrating a triad comprising afundamental or first partial, an octave note or second partial, and asecond octave note or third partial adapted to be produced by theimproved bar when played.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a modified form of vibrant bar having asingle waved surface to provide intermediate or overtone nodal pointsbetween the fundamental nodal points of the bar.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 indicates a percussion musical instrumentresonator box or base provided with upwardly projecting posts orsupports 2 for supporting the chords 3 or the like which pass throughthe fundamental nodal points of a plurality of groups of improvedvibrant bars embodyin the principles of this invention. The vibrant barsin the instrument illustrated in Figure 1 are arranged in upper andlower groups with the inner ends of the bars positioned in overlappingrelation. This arrangement of the groups of vibrant bars provides aninstrument whereby the playing of the same is greatly facilitated inview of the shorter range of hammer movement required as illustrated bythe full line and dotted line positions of the hammer in Figure 1 of thedrawmgs.

The important feature of the percussion type of musical instrument asillustrated in Figure 1 is the novel formation of the vibrant bars, theformation of which will now be described in detail. 7

Each of the improved vibrant bars of the type illustrated in Figures 2and 3 is adapted to be constructed out of metal, wood, or otherspecially prepared suitable material, and is of elongated shape havingfiat parallel side surfaces 4, a waved, sinuous or undulating topsurface 5, a waved or undulating bottom surface 6, and reduced endsurfaces 7. The top surface 5 and the bottom surface 6 are waved insymmetrical relation with respect to the longitudinal axis of-the bar asnasal-"sea clearly illustrated in Figure 2, to provide a plurality ofreduced or concave intermediate sections 8 on opposite sides of themiddle and adjacent the fundamental nodal points 9 of the bar. The wavedsurfaces 5 and 6 continue to the outer ends of the bar to provide convexor bulged end sections which taper gradually to the reduced end surfaces7 of the bar. This provision of the reduced or concave sections betweenthe fundamental nodal points and the middle of the bar provides anadditional pair of intermediate or overtone nodal points 10, thusproviding the improved bar with four nodes. The novel construction ofthe improved vibrant bar produces a convex intermediate or middlesection in the bar between the reduced concave sections with said middlesection adapted to be varied in thickness and length for producingdesired fundamental tones, while the thickness and length of theconcavesections may be varied to determine the desired twelfths or quints.While the end sections are illustrated as being of convex shape it willof course be understood that the end sections may be straight withalternating concave and convex sections therebetween.

-The novel or particular shape of the vibrant bar having the reducedintermediate sections between the end sections and the middle sectionproduces a bar which when played by means of a mallet or hammer willproduce the theoretical wave'curve 11 of the fundamental tone and inaddition thereto will produce an overtone or partial theoretical wave12. As illustrated in Figure 2, the fundamental tone wave 11 produces acurve WlllCll passes through the fundamental nodal points 9 while theovertone or partial wave curve 12 passes not only through thefundamental nodes 9 but also through the intermediate nodal points 10 ofthe bar. Corresponding with a single loop or wave of the fundamentalsound curve 11 which extends between a pair of the fundamental nodalpoints 9, the overtone or partial wave curve 12 comprises three waves orloops extending from the two fundamental nodal points 9 and passingthrough the two intermediate nodal points 10. This novel combination ofthe fundamental and partial tones produced by playing the improvedvibrant bar produces extra tones in harmonic relation to the fundamentaltone whereby a fundamental octave, a twelfth or quint frequency or otherselected intervals may be secured, producing the effect of a pluralltyof sounds or a triad; examples of which are illustrated in Figure 4 ofthe drawings in which the first group of notes represents a fundamentaland a pair of twelfths or quints;

the second group indicating a fundamental,-

an octave and a quint or twelfth; while the third group illustrates atriad comprising a fundamental note and double octave notes.

, Referring now to Figure 5 of the drawings,

' parallel a modified form of percussion musical instrument vibrant baris illustrated which is of elongated form and may be constructed ofmetal, wood or other suitable specially prepared material of eithersolid or hollow construction. In the form shown in Figure the modifiedvibrant bar comprises a pair of straight sides 13, a flat upper surface14 and a waved or undulatin bottom surface 15, the ends of whichterminate at reduced end surfaces 16. Providing a waved or undulatingbottom surface 15 produces a vibrant bar having a plurality of reducedintermediate sections 17 between an enlarged middle section 18 and apair of end sections 19. The sections of reduced thickness 17 arepositioned adjacent the fundamental nodal points 20 of the bar affordinga pair of intermediate or overtone nodal points 21. The improved barthus shaped, when struck with a hammer or mallet produces not only afundamental tone but in addition distinct and different musical tones,all of which are in harmony with each other to produce a triad. I

The thickness ,of the middle section is varied'to produce a requiredfundamental tone, while the thickness of the concave sections determinesthe twelfths and quints.

The improved vibrant bars of this invention are peculiarly shaped toprovide not only a plurality of sections of reduced thickness betweenthe middle and the fundamental nodal points of the bar but are alsoprovided with reduced or tapered end sections whereby each bar isprovided with additional nodes to the fundamental nodes of the bar. Theadditional nodes produce extra tones in harmonic relation to thefundamental tone whereby octaves, twelfths, quints and other selectedintervals can be produced.

The improved vibrant bars of this invention may be constructed of solidor hollow material in the shape of waved bars or tubes, said bars havinga plurality of sections of re duced thickness provided between 'endsections and intermediate sections whereby a plurality of additionalnodal points vided between the fundamental nodal points of the bar. Theimproved bars when played produce partials or overtones in addition tothe fundamental tone therebv producing a plurality of distinct anddifferent musical tones, all of which are in harmony with one another toproduce a triad. The improved bars are constructed to produce betterharmony and tone qualities in an instrument, and when mounted in anarrangement similar I to that illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawingsprovide a percussion instrument which is easier to play and inwhich therange of the hammer movement is greatly reduced. The arrangement of thetwo groups of vibrant bars in the relation illustrated in Figure, 1permits the bars to be struck by means of a hammer or mallet near theirinner ends to are proproduce triads consisting of the fundamental tonesin addition to partials or overtones in the formsof octaves, twelfths orquints.

It will of course be understood that various details of construction maybe varied through a wide range without departing from the principles ofthis invention, and it is therefore not intended to limit the patentgranted hereon otherwise than necessitatedby the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A percussion musical instrument vibrant bar having undulating top andbottom surfaces and providing a plurality'of sections of reducedthickness between the fundamental nodal points of the bar.

2. A musical instrument bar having one of the longitudinal surfacesthereof waved to produce additional nodal points between the fundamentalnodal points of the bar.

3. A musical bar of uniform width having a surface of sinuous formproviding a plurality of convex portions separated by concave portionsto provide additional nodes between the fundamental nodes of the bar.

4-. A musical instrument bar of uniform width and sinuous form from endto end provided with a convex middle section and a pair of convex endsections, with said convex middle section and said convexend sectionsconnected by means of concave intermediate sections.

5. A percussion musical instrument bar shaped to provide alternatingconvex and concave sections and having the surfaces defining suchsections. of undulating symmetrical shape.

6. A musical bar shaped to provide three convex sections connected bytwo concave sections to provide the bar with a pair of overtone nodespositioned between a pair of fundamental nodes of the bar.

7. A musical instrument percussion member shaped to provide ends and aplurality of spaced sections connected by reduced sections to provideadditional nodal points between the fundamental nodal points of themember.

8..A vibrant bar for musical instruments having top and bottom surfacesof undulating.

formfrom end to end, said bar being of maximum thickness at itsmiddlewith portions on each side of its middle successively of reducedand increasedthickness, the portions of reduced thickness being betweenthe fundamental nodal points of the bar.

9. A vibrant bar for musical instruments so varied in thickness in eachdirection from its middle as to produce an overtone above the octave ofthe fundamental tone of the bar.

10. A vibrant bar for musical instruments so varied in thickness in eachdirectionfrom its middle that the first overtone will be octavely spacedfrom its fundamental tone and the next overtone will be a fifth abovethe octave of its fundamental tone.

11. A vibrant bar for musical instruments having one of its activesurfaces of undulating shape from end to and thus providing portions ofvarying thicknesses, said surface being so fashioned that a portion ofreduced thickness lies between the fundamental nodal points of the bar.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Chicago, CookCounty,

Illinois.

HENRY J. SCHLUTER.

